• First of all, Ireland is a parliamentary democracy, composed by a President, an Executive branch and a Legislative Branch.

     

    The current President of Ireland was elected in 2011 and is called Michael D.Higgins. In 2018, there will be new elections and the people can vote for a new President or they can choose to elect him another time, because the mandate is renewable once. He lives in Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin. The President of Ireland has mainly a ceremonial role but he also composes the legislative branch, called 'Oireachtas’ with the Parliament.

    Irish politic system

    Michael D.Higgins

     

     By the way, the Parliament is composed of two elected houses.

    The first one is the House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann). It has the power to pass laws and to appoint and replace the Taoiseach (Prime Minister). It meets since 1922 in the Leinster House in Dublin. It has 166 deputies (called Teachta  Dálas).

    The second one is the Senate ( the Seanad Éireann ). It consists of sixty members called Senators who divide into groups supporting and opposing Government business when voting on issues.

    •       11 are nominated by the Taoiseach. 
    •             6 are elected by certain national universities.
    •           43 are elected from special vocational panels of candidates.

     

            

    Irish politic system             

    Enda Kenny                                  Joan Burton

    About the Government, it represents the executive power is composed of the Prime Minister (Enda Kenny) who is also called, in Gaelic, the Taoiseach and the Deputy Prime Minister (Joan Bruton) who is called Tánaiste.

    In addition to the Taoiseach, the government is also composed of 15 Ministers.

    All of them are appointed by the President with the approval of or on the nomination of Dáil Éireann.


      

     


  • Day 28:

    Week 5

     Week 5

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Marlène, Anna and I go to Killiney (prononciation: 'kill-eye-knee'). We miss the bus stop so we have to ask our way and walk. We arrive to a beach, wonderful. We take some photos, and decide to walk to Dalkey. We discover huge and beautiful houses with a big garden, view on the bay, fountains, swimming pools, volleyball fields, expensive cars... And then, we arrive to Dalkey and its harbour.

    We take the train (DART) to Bray station. We eat on the beach and walk around cliffs for 7 km. Beautiful view. We arrive to Greystones and come back at home.

    So tired I am,but it is an amazing day!

     

    Day 29:

    Today it's Tuesday pancakes!

    I have my first assessment in European Cultural Sociology. And I book my flight to go to Edinburgh with Marlène from the 5th April to the 8th April. I can't wait.

     

    Days 30&31:

    It's a normal day with a lot of courses. Nothing to report.

     

    Day 32:

    No course. Sun is here. Planning: National botanic garden (even if e are in winter, there are some flowers)and shopping at Penneys with Marlène, Nele (German girl) and me. 

    Week 5

    Day 33:

    We (3 French and 4 German) decide to go to Dublin moutains. We walk a lot but there is a panoramic view of Dublin on the top. Then, we go to a pub to drink a coffe because we are frozen and eat a burger. It's nice because there is a live concert.

    Week 5

     

    Day 34:

    The weather is bad. I just stay at home, speak with my owners, do my homework and watch movies.


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  • 1. Walk in Dublin

    During one day, you can walk in the city center to discover some places like:

    • Saint Stephen green park and shopping center
    • Some famous streets and bridges
    • Trinity collegeand its library (one of the oldest and most prestigious university)
    • Dublin Castle
    • Christ Church Cathedral
    • The Parliement
    • Temple Bar (stop you to drink a beer or a coffee)
    • The Spire (stop you to Penneys, a very famous cheap clothes' shop)

     

    10 places to visit in Dublin

    10 places to visit in Dublin

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2. Phoenix park

    Phoenix park and its 707 hectares, is one of the largest enclosed recreational spaces within any European capital city. It's larger than all of London's city parks pu together and more than twince the area of New York's Central Park. It has been managed as a National Historic Park since 1986. Its names comes from 'Fionn Uisce' in Gaelic, which means 'clear water'.

    Phoenix Park is covered by trees, which are mainly broadleaf parkland species such as oak, ash, lime, beech, sycamore and horsechestnut. The Phoenix Park is a sanctuary for many mammals and birds and a wide range of wildlife habitats are to be found in the park.  One such  area is the Furry Glen, which is managed as a conservation area. 

    • Aras an Uachtarain which is the residence of the President of Ireland from 1750.
    • The United States Ambassador's residence built in 1774.
    • Welligton Testimonial which is an obelisk which mesure about 60 meters tall. It was built in the nineteenth century to celebrate Arthur Wellesky's victories.
    • The Papal Cross which was erected in 1979 for papal visit of Pope John Paul II.  
    • The Phoenix Monument
    • Dublin zoo
    • The Victorian people's flower gardens provide an opportunity to display Victorian horticulture at its best. 

    10 places to visit in Dublin

     

    3. Kilmainham goal

    Kilmainham Gaol is one of the largest unoccupied gaols in Europe, covering some of the most heroic and tragic events in Ireland's emergence as a modern nation from 1780s to the 1920s. Dublin's Kilmainham Gaol held some of the most famous political and military leaders in Irish history such as Robert Emmet, Charles Stewart Parnell, the 1916 Rising leaders and Eamon de V.

    Attractions include a major exhibition detailing the political and penal history of the prison and its restoration. There is also a museum.

     

    10 places to visit in Dublin

    4. Wiclow moutains

     You should go to Glendalough. It's the 10th century monastic and there is also a cemetary. Spend several hours at this area of overwhelming beauty. Relax you and take a lesirurely walk up to the waterfull, the upper and lower lakes. And then finish the day at Avoca mill which which is the oldest wool's manufactures in Ireland. 

    Make sure you have your camera ready!   

    10 places to visit in Dublin

    5. Dun Laoghaire Harbour

    Dun Laoghaire is a harbour and a suburban seaside town on the Dublin coast. It is very nice. If you can there, you will discover boats and a good way for a walking. Stay there for the sunset, it is wonderful!

    10 places to visit in Dublin

     

    6. Dublin coast: Dalkey to Greystones

    Probably the best place that I've seen in Dublin. Take the DART to Killiney where you arrive on the beach. Walk on the beach and go to the left when you look the sea. And walk in Killiney town where you will discover so many big and wonderful houses with big gardens, view on the bay, fountains, swimming pools, volleyball fields, expensive cars... And then, you will arrive to Dalkey, its hill and its harbour. Take some pictures and then go to train station. Take the train to Bray. You could walk on the beach again. And follow the way to the cross and then to Greystones where you will walk around cliffs. Very nice! I liked it very much. Finally, you will arrive to Greystones, its harbours and sheeps.

    Take care to have good shoes because you will walk a lot (about 6hours)

    10 places to visit in Dublin

     10 places to visit in Dublin


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  • Day 22:

    I have marketing lesson. Then, I test English class but in addition to my other lessons because I can't take this course and have the exam. ESDES (my school in France) doesn't want because it is a year 4's lesson and I have already Spanish lesson. But I think I won't continue this course because it's very easy and I don't learn anything.

    During the afternoon, Marlène and I cook crepes because last week it was Candlemas. Hummmm, bon appétit!

     

    Day 23:

    I have class, so I study. Nothing to report.

    Day 24:

    I test Business management. I like it! Students are very nice and speak with us. Lecturer is nice and interresting. She speaks snowly and she asks us so many questions. We can participate during this class. We learn something because we haven't seen theses notions before.

    Day 24:

    I have Business Management at 11 o'clock. Very good lesson but the lecturer comes at 11:38. We study about entreprenership and have an oral presentation. I am so stressed but finally, it is good. 

    For the afternoon, I write articles on this blog, study and watch serie called Scandal. Besides, if you have never seen it, watch it, it's so gooooood!

     

    Day 25:

    I am happy, I find a job! I have an interview with Sian and it's okay. I will work for WALK WITH ME. It's an association for people with an intellectual Disabilit. I will take care about two teenagers once or twice a week. 

    Week 4The weather is bad, sometimes it's rainning so, I decide to visit Kilmainham prison. Even if major building works being undertaken at Kilmainham Gaol until the end of December 2015, the visit is great. The history of the Easter uprising is only 100 years ago, yet seems longer. Guide is very informational and telling the history some of which is shocking to hear.

    I go to the badminton training. I play a lot. It's fun and I can do sport!

    I come back at home, eat, have a shower and let's go to Jona (German guy) to a pre party and then to Dtwo to Erasmus party for Valentin's day. The pre party is nice but, music at Dtwo is horrible and we come back early with Marlène who sleeps with me.

    John and Veronica are drinking a beer and watch a movie so we speak with them and finally we go to bed.

     

    Day 26:

    Week 4

     

    I play a lot with Corey, so cute.

    And then I go to Dublin City Center to watch the rugby match Ireland vs France in a bar called Living room. It's a very famous bar for sport events. Very very very good atmosphere even if France looses.

     

    Result : Ireland 18 - 11 France.

     

    We go to Burger King (hum Delicious) and come back.

     

     

     

    Day 27:

    It's Sunday, I stay at home, organize my trips, speak with the family, watch a movie and sleep.

     


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  • Tap water in the Republic of Ireland until now has been free - but the introduction of charges as an austerity measure is not proving popular. Water meters have been installed since January 2015 and Irish people will have to pay water from April 2015 because if nobody change there will be a shortage of water.

     

    In April, a family composed of two adults and two children will pay about €280 a year. The first 30 000 litters will be free, in addition to free 21 000 litters thanks to one children (under 18 years old), so a ‘typical family’ could use freely 72 000 litters and then, will pay less than 0.5 cents each litter.


    According a study realised by Irish water in 2013, one person uses about 55 000 litters a year.

    Another example: a household of 3 adults will pay about €380 a year. Look at this video/advertising made by UISCE – IRISH WATER.

     

     

    But, of course, there are so many demonstrations because Irish people don't want to pay water!

     

     


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